Russian resort owner is facing complaints for damaging the riverbed in Negros Occidental

Officials say the foreigner painted rocks and stones along the Asia River, the main water source for waterfalls in a nature reserve

BACOLOD, Philippines — A Russian resort owner is in hot water for damaging a 40-meter stretch of riverbed to add color to the area in Murcia City in Negros Occidental.

Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said authorities were preparing complaints against Ivan Orlov for violation of the 2004 Clean Water Act, vandalism and malicious mischief.

Orlov, owner of Russian Resort, reportedly painted a 40-meter stretch of riverbed, including many boulders, rocks and stones, along Asia River in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia. Asia River serves as the main water source for the sixth and seventh waterfalls in the provincial government-run Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary.

An inspection conducted by Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, Gerangaya, and Minoyan Barangay Chairman Eric Espinosa on Thursday, September 26, confirmed viral reports on social media about what had been done along the riverbed.

Gerangaya said the act was an outright desecration considering the damage to the environment caused by the paint, which contained environmentally unfriendly substances.

Officials said it was an unacceptable violation because paint in natural water causes damage regardless of whether latex was used or not.

Attempts to contact Orlov were unsuccessful as his staff claimed he was abroad on business.

Officials said the legal consequences could be dire. Violating the Clean Water Act carries fines of up to P3 million.

Orlov also faces a charge of violation of the Anti-Vandalism Act of 2009 and malicious mischief, which could result in a prison sentence of up to one year and fines ranging from P10,000 to P40,000.

Rojas and Gerangaya said they have ordered the immediate removal of the paint, directing resort staff to use manual methods to prevent further contamination.

“It is our permanent mission to restore the Asia River to its original beauty,” Gerangaya said.

The river’s colorful transformation has not only caught the attention of local authorities, but also sparked outrage online.

Rhoderick Samonte, a local environmentalist, denounced the act in a viral Facebook post: “I speak loudly against the discoloration of rocks and stones along our beloved mountain rivers. This act, wrongly characterized as an artistic expression, is nothing less than a desecration of the inherent beauty of nature.”

Local officials said their message is clear: Natural landscapes, especially those under public management, are not canvases for artistic whims.

They said that what looks beautiful online can cause damage in the real world if nature is tampered with. – Rappler.com